Olivia Munn’s Baby Name Tribute to Mom Sparks Unexpected Backlash
Another headline-grabbing stumble courtesy of Hollywood’s most self-aware duo: Olivia Munn and John Mulaney. When the pair announced in November 2021 that their newborn daughter would carry grandma’s moniker—Mary Jo Mulaney—the Internet collectively rolled its eyes, calling it a “retro sitcom throwback” and “an itchy sweater of a name” (People, Nov. 2021). The plan was simple: honor Olivia’s mom, Mary Jo Munn, by weaving her name into the family tree. Instead, the tribute turned into a social-media roast session, complete with memes, Reddit threads, and unsolicited advice on “how not to name your baby.”
According to an Entertainment Tonight interview in December, Munn proudly explained, “Mom’s the reason I’m here, so of course our daughter had to get the same namesake.” Fair enough—just don’t expect fans on Twitter to let it slide. Memes comparing Mary Jo to your aunt’s garage-rock band circulated within hours of the announcement. One Redditor quipped, “I love grandma, but ‘Mary Jo’ sounds like a casserole recipe from the ’70s.” Ouch.
The backfire didn’t stop at snarky comments. US Weekly noted that some followers thought the couple had accidentally released the wrong name entirely. Rumors flew that they meant “Mary Jane” (because, you know, Spider-Man?), while others tried pronouncing “Jo” as “Joe.” The confusion peaked when a PR rep had to clarify to Page Six that “Mary Jo” is indeed spelled as two words—no cannabis references intended.
Olivia’s mom, bless her, kept mum (pun intended) initially, prompting speculation that she wasn’t thrilled. Sources tell People that Mary Jo Munn was “touched” but “a bit surprised” by the public ambush. Meanwhile, John Mulaney—fresh off his Las Vegas residency—chuckled through a late-night bit, calling the kerfuffle “the first actual online bully I’ve ever encountered.” He joked on Jimmy Fallon that he’s “starting a petition to switch the baby’s name to something easier—like ‘Stella.’”
If you needed proof that naming a child is a minefield, look no further. Celebrity parents get extra microscope treatment: every syllable, every tribute, every hyphen is fodder for endless hot takes. Moral of the story? Ask grandma first, then brace yourself for trolls. And next time you think you’ve picked the perfect honorific, remember that the Internet never sleeps—or forgives.
So there you have it—another identity crisis disguised as a heartfelt homage. Don’t worry, though: grandma’s still getting her flowers (and maybe a stern lesson in viral marketing). What could possibly go wrong next time they post a family photo? Stay tuned for more roasted parenting adventures.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, US Weekly
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
